BOSTON — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 6-3 loss to the Houston Astros Saturday at Fenway Park
1) The Red Sox fell behind (4-0) by the fourth inning and never could catch up. That’s been a pattern too often this season, as the Red Sox have not won a game all year in which they’ve trailed by two runs or more. The Sox chipped away with a run in the fifth and two more in the seventh. But they also frittered away numerous chances. From the third inning through the seventh, the Sox twice left two runners on base and twice left them full — that’s 10 runners stranded over the course of four innings. The loss dropped the Sox to 1-4 against Houston this season.
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2) Starter Connelly Early had the worst start of his young career, allowing five runs in just four innings of work. Three walks didn’t help. This marked the first time this season that Early had given up more than three runs in an outing, as the rookie lefty has been the most dependable starter in the Sox’ rotation. But not on this day. After seemingly settling down in the second and third, when he retired six of the seven hitters he faced, the fourth inning was a disaster as the Astros sent eight hitters to the plate and scored four times.
3) One way or another, Early has to figure out a way to be more efficient with his pitches. He has a history of having his pitch count escalate, to the point that he had only completed six innings in two of them. Some of the inefficiency is a matter of opposing hitters fouling off a lot of pitches, but some of it is on Early, too, who could stand to be more aggressive within the strike zone. When he left after just four innings, he had thrown 77 pitches.
4) It’s not like the Red Sox didn’t have their chances. Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti walked two in the third and two more in the fourth, but the Sox wasted both opportunities. Through the first four innings, they were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The Red Sox squandered a golden chance in the third inning, loading the bases with one out on a single by Ceddanne Rafaela and walks to Caleb Durbin and Jarren Duran. Willson Contreras had a chance to give the Sox a big inning, but, with a 1-and-1 count, hit into an inning-ending double play. Contreras has been one of few consistent hitters in the Red Sox lineup, with an OPS of .939 since April 1. But in a big spot, he wasn’t able to come through.
5) If nothing else has come out of the first two games of the homestand, the Sox are seeing much better at-bats from Roman Anthony, with hope that he’s pulling out of his season-long skid. Anthony had three hits Friday for the first time since Opening Day and Saturday, added a walk and slashed a hard single to the opposite field in the fifth when the Sox finally got on the scoreboard. It would be a huge step forward if Anthony began to produce the way the Sox had hoped.
6) It’s an open question how long the Red Sox intend to stick with Ryan Watson. A Rule 5 selection for the Sox last winter, he’s managed to eat some innings, but not always with good results. He took over in the fifth for Early and allowed a long home run to Christian Walker. He contributed three innings and allowed three hits (including a double and the homer) and a walk. That left his ERA at 6.10 for the season and opposing hitters are batting better than .300 against him. Of course, the Sox can’t just option him to Triple A; as a Rule 5 pick, he either remains on the active roster (or IL) for the season, or has to go through waivers and offered back to his original team.
7) All these years later, two Astros with ties to the 2017 sign-stealing scandal in Houston are not forgiven in Boston. For the first two games of the series, both shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve were roundly booed each time they were announced in the lineup or stepped into the batter’s box.
8) The final game of the series — and the final meeting between the two teams this season — will take place Sunday at 1:35 p.m. The Red Sox will send LHP Ranger Suarez (2-2, 3.09) to the mound against a pitcher to be determined from the Astros.
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